Stories from 11 June 2008
Armenia: Geopolitics, Opposition Protests & War
The Armenaker Kamilion comments on the opinion of a senior radical opposition leader in Armenia that renewed fighting with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh might be one way for the authorities in Yerevan to declare martial law and end opposition protests which are set to start again on 20 June. The...
Kuwait: Female Ministers Must Cover Up!
Intlxpatr, an expatriate living in Kuwait, reports that an Islamic MP has requested Parliament to ban female ministers not wearing the Islamic headscarf, the Hijab, from entering Parliament.
Iraq: University Warning to Female Students
Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin comments on a ruling by an Iraqi university which had issued a warning to female students not to dress up provocatively.
Saudi Arabia: Celebrating Life
Saudi PhD student Hala, who lives in the US, attended the Celebrate your Life conference, which attracted a line up of writers and thinkers.
Blogger witnesses whales beaching in Madagascar
The mass stranding of at least one hundred melon-headed whales were reported in the mangrove of Antsohihy Bay (Northwest region of Madagascar) in the first week of June. Harinjaka and the non-governmental organization Fanamby were among the first to report (fr) and publish photos (mg) of this ecological disaster. The...
Uganda: Media crackdown
Moses Paul writes about media crackdown in Uganda: “Government has set up a special ministerial taskforce in what appears another move by the state to muzzle the media. This is not the first time hardline elements in President Museveni’s government have mooted unconstitutional machinations to clamp down on the independent...
Zimbabwe: Operation pull down your satellite dish
The ruling party in Zimbabwe hates satellite dishes!:”The Zimbabwean government has announced the beginning of yet another operation designed to oppress the people of Zimbabwe. Under Operation Dzikisai Madhishi (Operation pull down your satellite dish) the regime is forcing Zimbabweans to pull down their home satellite dishes through which the...
Ethiopia: Ogaden, Ethiopia's Darfur?
Dr. Ethiopia blogs about Ethiopia's troubled Ogaden region: “Modern Ogaden is a place where its people are being used as target practice for Ethiopians soldiers. A place where journalists are scarce. Journalists, in the past, have been accused of aiding and abetting the enemy (The Ogaden people).”
Bahrain: Letter from Jail
Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam [Ar] has received a letter from jailed fellow blogger Abdulla Mohsen. Mohsen has been in prison since the end of last year – on charges which include “the theft of a weapon and burning a police jeep.”
South Korea: A Million People Protest
Matt puts together photos of the June 10 million people candle night vigil against the importation of unsafe U.S beef [zh].
Bahrain: Thoughts on the F1
Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif shares his thoughts on incidents which happened at the Formula One Race held in Canada over the weekend.
Algeria: Tragic Attacks
“The tragic attacks that took place in Algiers this week were surely aimed at debasing the prestige of the Algerian government, which is preparing to receive Mediterranean representatives and which has won the favor of most Western (and eastern) governments in its battle with al-Qaeda,” writes Algerian blogger Nouri.
Iraq: A Special Imam
Iraqi Abbas Hawazin writes about a clergyman with special characteristics, in charge of a mosque in the Green Zone.
The myriad voices of Pakistani blogosphere
Pakistan's growing blogosphere presents a kaleidoscope of the complex, contradictory developments within the country. The country is in the grip of a major movement for upholding the rule of law. Some say it is the finest moment in our history while others term it as yet another agent of instability....
Bhutan: The Communists
Freedom in Bhutan on the trend of communists taking power in South Asia.
China: Hepatitis B Forum
Dupola introduces a Hepatitis B Forum for patients to share their experience and defend their rights. Unfortunately the forum has been blocked by the Great Fire Wall.
Madagascar: why is Africa deprived of the UEFA European Cup ?
While the football world is enjoying the UEFA European Football Championship, many countries in Africa are restricted to watching 8 tournament games. Jentilisa, blogging from Madagascar, explains that the number of games to be broadcasted was decided by AFNEX (African Network and News Exchange) who bought the rights to the...
Tunisia: Protestor Killed in Clashes with Police
Tunisian Annaqued [Ar] republishes a human rights communique protesting the death of a demonstrator during a stand off with police in the Rudayef protests, which have been going on since the beginning of the year.
Egypt: The Diet of a Cairo Family
Zeinobia, from Egypt, sheds light on a newspaper report on the food consumed by a Cairo family in a week.
Iraq: Secret Peace Deal
“A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November,” concludes Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin.
Morocco: Resisting Daylight Savings
The modern concept of Daylight Savings Time was conceived by William Willett in 1905 and was first initiated by Germany in 1916. Most of the world does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, and until recently, Morocco was no exception. This year, however, the Moroccan government decided to re-introduce DST.